Visit Wapping in Historic East London

Although badly damaged by bombing raids in the Blitz and affected by the closure of its docks industry, the East End’s Wapping area still has some little historical gems that are worth a visit. Wapping has been inhabited since Saxon times and has played a part in some of London’s more interesting moments.

Places to Visit in the East End of London – Wapping.

Wapping’s name probably comes from the Saxons who first inhabited the area – it is thought that they were led by someone called Waeppa. It runs along part of the embankment of the Thames and much of its trade history has a connection with the water. For many centuries, the locals who worked and lived here served sailors and sea travellers and were involved in businesses such as mast making, boat building, instrument making and victualing. This was a prosperous area for many centuries.

The most famous part of Wapping is one that you may not be able to locate exactly. For over 400 years, it was home to London’s infamous Execution Dock. This was a gibbet that hung over the Thames on a dock, and it was the place of execution for pirates and seagoers who had broken the law. They would be hanged at the dock and their bodies would then traditionally stay hanging until three tides had submerged the bodies.

According to the law, the Admiralty only had jurisdiction over crimes at sea, hence the fact that the dock and gibbet were located beyond the low tide mark. The most famous person to be executed here was the pirate, Captain Kidd.

River Police History and Wapping

River Police in Wapping

Wapping is also supposed to be the place that first invented a marine police force. A local magistrate established a group of police officers in the late 1700s, which was tasked with stopping crime on ships moored in the area.

There was a lot of theft and damage to ships by London criminals and this Marine Police Force evolved into today’s Marine Support Unit. This is still based in Wapping High Street – the building is also home to the Thames Police Museum.

Wapping saw some major changes in the 19th century. It had previously been one of the docklands hubs of the area, but new docks were built in different locations and the area became less pivotal to London’s sea trade. It is estimated that Wapping lost almost 60% of its population at this time, as industry moved out of the area.

Wapping got a bit of a boost, however, in the early 1800s when Marc Isambard Brunel constructed the Thames Tunnel. This ran from Wapping to Rotherhithe on the other side of the river and was the first tunnel running underwater in the world. It is now part of the London Overground network. Although beset by problems, there was a point when the tunnel was a great tourist attraction, which may have benefited some of the locals.

Despite the fact that Wapping was now peripheral in docklands terms, it still suffered badly from bombing raids during the Second World War. The area, like much of the East End also suffered again as London’s docks in the area closed down after the war and moved away. For a period of time, the area was run-down and had few prospects for improvement. It took until the 1980s for regeneration to begin in earnest. Wapping is now coming alive again and is home to some desirable, and usually fairly expensive, waterside homes and businesses.

Battle of Wapping and News International

In recent years, Wapping has become synonymous with the media magnate, Rupert Murdoch. In 1986, his company, News International, built a massive publishing factory in Wapping. The area became the scene of industrial protests, including the “Battle of Wapping” when Murdoch moved production to Wapping from its traditional base of Fleet Street and introduced new technologies that cost 5,000 workers their jobs. This move effectively ended Fleet Street’s traditional role as the base of British publishing.

Hidden Historical Gems in Wapping

Visitors to Wapping today can still find some little historical gems that are not found anywhere else in the capital. The area still has some ancient stairs that give access to the Thames shore. If you dig around in the banks of the river at low tide, you stand a chance of unearthing something pretty old. The best stairs to use for this are Wapping Old Stairs and Pelican Stairs by The Prospect of Whitby pub.

This pub is a must-see for visitors to London. It is supposed to be the oldest pub in London that stands by the side of the Thames. This may or may not be true, but there has been a pub on the site since the time of Henry VIII so there is some history there. There is a replica of the Execution Dock gibbet close to the pub, although this probably was not its exact location.

5 comments on “Visit Wapping in Historic East London”

My brothers and I lived in Jackman House which is off of Wapping High Street at Watts Street in the the late 1950’s. Jackman was part of what was known as the Wapping housing estate began by the LCC in 1926. Anyone out there who lived on that estate back then? Here’s a link to the history.

I’m compiling a tour guide of London’s most hidden gems, (not the usual tourist sights) and I am currently working on London Bridge to Wapping. Bearing in mind that readers would ideally be walking, do you have any offbeat items that still exist in this area that I could possibly include?

Do you know if there was a Venetian-style building right on the Thames? Or was it trick photography used in the P.D. James TV Dalgliesh mystery, “Original Sin”, with the building called Innocent House? I can’t find any reference to it, except Foscari in Venice, or find any such building ever existing in Wapping. It certainly doesn’t seem to be there now. Thanks for any help.

Derek Bailey on Visit Wapping in Historic East LondonMy brothers and I lived in Jackman House which is off of Wapping High Street at Watts Street in the the late 1950's. Jackman was part of what was known as the Wapping housing estate began by the LCC in 1926. Anyone out there who lived on that estate back

sue willis on History of The Isle of Dogs LondonHi as the children of an Islander my brother & I are regular readers of Isle of Dogs Lives & we were especially pleased to see an article on Alpha Grove. Does anyone remember the Bircham family firstly of Mellish Street & then no 67 Alpha Grove? They were George

John Dallman on Brick Lane History, East LondonI grew up in Flower & Dean street off of Brick Lane 1559 - 1970. I lived in a late Victorian tenement block called Ruth house (Demolished) I remember Brick Lane when most of the shops were Jewish and what is now a mosque was a synagogue. I remember going

Vicki M Kay on The Sinking of The Princess AliceMy 3rd great grandfather Filmer Kidston was abourd with his second wife Elizabeth, their two sons and two girls and a boy from his wife’s previous marriage. Filmer spent about 45 minutes in the water with one of his sons before they were rescued. His wife was found drowned almost

Dave Bamber on V1 and V2 Rocket Attacks in East LondonJuly 3rd 1944 30 Twickenham Road, Isleworth. Does anyone have any information about the bomb that destroyed my Aunt`s house. Her name was Evelyn May Bamber and she was killed. Many thanks, Dave Bamber.

Bill Nicholson on Poplar Upper North Street School DisasterHello Stanley I'm disappointed to have missed the centenary of this dreadful act - I visited the area during 2012 and hoped to be able to visit again. Anyway I decided to look it up following the centenary of the end of WW1 this weekend. My mum (Olive Clayson) was

Janice Brown Josch on Coventry Road Ilford EssexI come from Canning Town, but about 30 years ago my now husband, Ulf, came from Germany to work at Mattessons in West Ham. He rented a room in a house in Coventry Road.

Janice Brown Josch on History of Canning Town East LondonHello everyone .. did anyone know my now late father, Charles Brown? Lived in RavensCroft Road, his mother (remarried) Eileen Thorp

Shirley Runnalls (Wallis) on History of the Royal London HospitalJust read the history, brought back memories as I was SET 326 at Tredegar' Sad to hear the uniform is no longer used. We have a film in Cornwall re Edith Cavell Tomorrow so I have old LH newspapers re her plus photo of Edith Cavell Home also LH badge

Kellie Fennell on History of Canning Town East LondonHi Robert I come from canning town and there are a few really good Facebook sites...canning town memories...start with this one and they will advise you on another one where they help you trace people from the area...I'm sure someone will be able to help you on there. ..good luck

Lola on Brick Lane History, East LondonThis article is so off base. I've lived around brick lane for years and never heard anyone call it Banglatown. And the curry restaurants are appalling. They rip you off. They ran on a few years of reputation but started scamming on quality or watering down wine thinking people wouldn't